Shirley MacLaine Joins ‘Downton Abbey’ Cast

Shirley MacLaine Downton AbbeyShirley MacLaine is joining the cast of Downton Abbey, the ITV series that airs in the U.S. on PBS’ Masterpiece Theater and just won the Golden Globe for best miniseries. Our colleagues at TVLine report that MacLaine will play American-born mother of Elizabeth McGovern’s character Lady Grantham. She is set to appear on the third season of the series, which begins production this month. (Season 2 is just wrapping on PBS here.) “My late grandfather directed Shirley MacLaine in Gambit in 1966,” said Downton Abbey executive producer Gareth Neame, “so it is a delight for me that she will be joining us on Downton Abbey.”

Comments (10)

  • That splashing sound was caused by a jumping shark

    Comment by Bob Barnett — Monday January 30, 2012 @ 12:17pm PST  Reply to this post
  • wow

    Comment by Herb Finn — Monday January 30, 2012 @ 12:17pm PST  Reply to this post
  • Fantastic! My favorite actress on my new fave show. Thrilled to hear it!!!!

    Comment by Lauren — Monday January 30, 2012 @ 12:23pm PST  Reply to this post
  • Oh, but you’re so wrong, Barnett. SM is brilliant, and absolutely in the tonal wheelhouse of this show – wryly funny one minute and utterly sincere the next. Can’t wait to see this extra layer of fabulousness.

    Comment by tvwriter/fan — Monday January 30, 2012 @ 12:31pm PST  Reply to this post
  • This show only improves with age…I cannot wait to see Maggie Smith & Shirley MacLaine on screen together. Brilliant casting for a brilliant show!

    Comment by Truthteller — Monday January 30, 2012 @ 12:41pm PST  Reply to this post
    • Yep! One clash of the titans i wanna see!

      Comment by dee123 — Monday January 30, 2012 @ 4:32pm PST  Reply to this post
  • Great. Maybe the BBC can get Warren Beatty to join the cast of Doctor Who.

    Comment by Bored by stunt casting — Monday January 30, 2012 @ 1:20pm PST  Reply to this post
    • Now that would be some piece of stunt casting.

      “Warren Beatty took an interest in my career at one point.” ~ Courtney Love

      Comment by Bob — Tuesday January 31, 2012 @ 7:36am PST  Reply to this post
  • I see great banters in the future between her character and Maggie Smith’s.
    it would be more that interesting, and most likely entertaining

    Comment by mika — Tuesday January 31, 2012 @ 9:15am PST  Reply to this post
  • There goes the show…

    Comment by Bemused — Monday February 6, 2012 @ 4:45pm PST  Reply to this post
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